A few question regarding the Pens????

Question

With 14 free agents to sign I expected them to lose a couple, anybody expect the mass exodis they are experiencing?

With the quality players mostly signed, who's left of interest on the FA market for them?

How good will they be next season?

Answer 1

They definitely lost a little grit up front, but Satan and Fedotenko will likely offset the offensive contribution that walked away with Malone, etc.

Hossa walking for a one-year deal was definitely an insult to the organization, however.

As for the UFA pool, all but one of the remaining "impact" guys are well into their 30's. There's always Sundin, but they don't need another top 5 center. Hehe

If the Pens have cap space left by mid July, look for them to move picks and prospects to a cap-heavy franchise looking to dump salary.

Answer 2

Most of there so called "talent" appeared to be products of the system and will most likely have an enourmous drop off in production in the upcoming season.  I don't see the Penguins having any trouble at all winning the division again.

Answer 3

Your star players are still around so don't worry. The Pens can build a team around Crosby and Malkin..........even the Leafs could build around those two. But I have to agree that the loss of Ruutu and Malone will hurt somewhat. Good Luck to Roberts as he is a classy player with some punch but the team can replace him easily as he was old....they'll get someone younger to step in. Don't worry the Pens will do just fine this coming season!!

Answer 4

If what I've observed over the years is any indication, I doubt that the Pens will go as deep as the Finals again. While they are an up and coming team with Crosby and Malkin filling the nets, it's unusual for a team to reach the Finals, lose the players they have lost and return to the Finals again the next season.

While it isn't impossible, and at times it may even seem probable, I wouldn't put all my money on the Pens representing the Eastern Conference next season. They'll be a force to contend with, but on paper, they seem to be with the rest of the top Eastern teams as of now.

I can see them besting my Flyers for the Division title if no players are added/subtracted for any reason, but to pick any conference team from the East is anybody's guess.

Then too, is the fan in me that says the Flyers SHOULD win the division.

Answer 5

Not really surprising.  I think a lot of the players realize that this team has a lot of money tied up in Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Gonchar, Whitney, and Orpik.  Also they have 6 defenseman making $2 million or more a year.  They really need a way to dump Darryl Sydor and probably Hal Gill.  Sydor wasn't used in the playoffs until the Finals wasn't really a factor.  The Pens now have 13 players making more than $2 million a year.  Malone knew he would never get the money in Pittsburgh that he could elsewhere.  There really won't be much room for raises for the role players.  I think that is their biggest motivation.

Right now the Pens roster looks decent, but they are short on forwards, maybe that Finnish player they signed can jump in for relatively cheap (I don't know the terms).

They will do fine and should finish near the top in the East again barring multiple major injuries.  Satan and Fedotenko should fit nicely and if Fed plays with Crosby or Malkin, you can expect him to have a career year.

Answer 6

Hi

Hey at least they are getting Malkin extended nice and early.

Thank You

Answer 7

Right now we're looking at a line up of this sort of.....

(?????) - Crosby - Satan

Fedotenko - Malkin - Sykora

Dupuis - Staal - Kennedy

Godard - Talbot - (???)

Gonchar - Eaton

Whitney - Orpik

Letang - Gill

(Scuderi, and Sydor)

Fleury

Sabourin

....Ok, so there's two holes. But I hear we signed some Finnish boy. I'm still waiting for an actual announcement of this. His name is Janne Pesonen.....player over in Finland for a while, and was drafted by the Ducks a few years ago.

I really think the Pens should possibly try and sign Brendan Shanahan if he's not asking too much. But I don't see that happening......

I've also heard rumors that they're trying to get rid of Sydor to free some cap space, but that's nothing but a rumor right now.

Now I don't want to be a homer or anything, but the Penguins will be GOOD next year. Everyone needs to relax. They still have the core together signed long term (Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Whitney, Orpik and they're working on a long term extension for Staal)

Now Hossa was like dessert. It's great to have, but you don't need it. The Penguins are still a highly talented team whether the haters see it or not. Do I think they can seriously compete this year? Yes I do. Now do I want to jinx them by saying that? No I not....lol.

I wrote a long thing about the Pens and everything in a free agency question a few minutes ago.....I will copy and paste it here.....(This answer will be a mile long)

Well, at first I was pissed. We lost Malone, Roberts, Hossa, Conklin, Hall, Laraque, Ruutu.....anyone else? Phew.

But does no one realize what Shero has done here? He kept the "core" together when everyone said it was impossible.

Impossible you say? Well........Fleury is locked down for 7 years now, Malkin for 5, and Orpik for 6.

So now that is Crosby, Fleury, Whitney, Malkin, and Orpik who are all locked down. Not to mention Shero is currently working on locking Staal down.

When Shero resigned Mark Eaton, I'll admit I was breathing fire, cursing like I know many people were, but Eaton is a good defensman (if he can stay healthy) and defense wins the cup....I'm not going to lie.

Resigning Dupuis was a very smart move. Yeah Dupuis may not be a big name guy, but he's great to have on the PK and he'll be a helluva 3rd liner next year.

Now Satan and Fedotenko.........Now Satan I've been joking around about since early Feb. when I realized Satan would be a UFA this summer. I've always liked him as a player and kept jokingly saying "Oh Shero needs to sign him!" Not really meaning anything.......well he signed him, and unlike a lot of people....I LIKE IT. Satan didn't do so hot last year, but did anyone else see his team? He was on the Islanders for Christ sake. Of course he wasn't outstanding. I can't wait to see him on the wing beside Sidney!

And Fedotenko I'm happy with.

Now yes it does hurt losing Hossa and what not, but what I've been saying since it happened "s***w them". Hossa didn't want to be here? Fine let him leave. I'd much rather have Miroslav who wants to be here than Marian who would rather jump off the wagon. Good ridance Hossa, and I hope you had the time of your life.

Answer 8

The only two players i'm truly upset about losing is Malone & Ruutu. Roberts' time was up here, as same with Laraque.

We're looking for more D's, i'm pretty sure.. So who knows.

Answer 9

Not suprised at all.  Most of the players that have left were not made any good offers by the Pens, such as Laraque, Ruutu, or Malone (and possible Hall, I never heard of any attempt to resign him).

The only player that has left when the Pens made a serious attempt to resign him was Hossa, I attribute this to his being a big bag of douche.

I really like the fact that Shero picked up Satan, I love him as a player and just think of all the fun signs we can hang in the igloo now.  

I'm not as familiar with Fedotenko so I'll stay mum on him for now.

Answer 10

We signed Miroslav Satan

We signed Ruslan Fedotenko

Re-signed Marc-Andre Fleury

Re-signed Brooks Orpik

Re-signed Evgeni Malkin

Signed Eric Godard

Re-signed Mark Eaton

Re-signed Pascal Dupuis

We may soon sign a left winger from Finland names Janne Pesonen........

I think we're ready for the new season !!

Answer 11

im kind of worried about losing all these players,, but they must have SOMETHING planned